Writers

All Blacks to play Wales in Cardiff

wru.co.uk, irishrugby.ie and James Mortimer 09 Dec 2013 Getty Images

Wales will face the All Blacks next autumn, with the Welsh Rugby Union confirming that the IRB's top three ranked sides, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia will visit the Millennium Stadium along with Pacific Island nation Fiji.

The schedule will see two of this year's opponents, the Springboks and the Wallabies return to Cardiff next year as part of Wales' preparation for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The matches against New Zealand, Australia and Fiji will be part of the IRB autumn window with South Africa confirmed as the fourth game of the series.

"We have consistently said, if you want to be the best, you have to play the best and the 2014 autumn schedule reconfirms that commitment," said WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis.

"We have just witnessed another exhilarating, tough autumn series and next year will be ideal preparation for the squad ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

"We will only have 12 matches in total in the run-up to our opening game at the tournament, so we must secure every opportunity to test ourselves at the highest level."

Meanwhile Ireland will take on South Africa, Australia and a leading European Tier 2 nation at the Aviva Stadium during November 2014.

South Africa, who are currently number 2 in the IRB World Rankings, provided the opposition for the opening fixture of the 2012 Series and will again be Ireland's first opponents in the autumn of 2014 as the two sides square off at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, November 8.

Ireland will be looking to record their fifth victory over the Springboks since the two countries first met at the Balmoral Showgrounds in 1906.

A week later on Saturday, November 15, Ireland will take on a leading European Tier 2 nation at the Aviva Stadium. Georgia, who have serious 2015 Rugby World Cup qualification ambitions, are the most likely opposition for this Test.

Ewen McKenzie's Australia will return to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, November 22. The Wallabies are the third ranked nation in world rugby following a successful autumn tour which saw them record wins over Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy while losing narrowly to England.